Global Warming - Fast Facts

• At the rate our climate is changing, the world will soon be warmer than at any time in th last 10,000 years.
  
• The world has warmed by 0.5 degC over the past century and an average 2 degC warming is predicted by 2100.
  
• There is scientific consensus that air pollution from human activities is partly responsible for global warming.
  
• Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons, and distribution of pests and diseases.
  
• Global warming will cause a continued and accelerated rise in sea levels, threatening half of the world's most critical coastal wetlands.
  
• A one-meter rise in sea level would threaten half of the world's coastal wetlands of international importance for their biodiversity.
  
• A 3 degC to 4 degC warming could eliminate up to 85% of the remaining wetlands in the semi-arid regions of southern Europe.
  
• The loss of wetlands in the flood plains of rivers in the African Sahel could make some local populations of turtles and birds extinct.
  
• A 3 degC to 4 degC warming could eliminate all open waters of the prairie pothole region in the US, an area where half of the wild duck population hatch out.
  
• About 30 new infectious diseases have emerged in the past 20 years.
  
• Global warming will expose millions of people to new health risks. Infectious diseases are emerging, resurging and undergoing redistribution on a global scale.
  
• Global sea level has risen between 10 to 25 cm in the last 100 years and will rise faster still in the coming decades.
  
• By the year 2050, up to one million additional deaths from malaria may be occurring annually as a result of climate change.
  
• The arctic is unusually important for migratory birds. An estimated 15% of the world's bird species are arctic specialists. In north america, 36 species breed only above 60 degN latitude.
  
• Ringed seals are the principal prey of polar bears. Unseasonal warming can lead to collapses of the snow caves where female seals bear their young. The young as yet have no blubber and die of exposure when cold conditions return. Scientists suspect that declines in seal populations will occur in this manner, and will ultimately lead to declines in polar bear populations.
  
• Detailed climate models suggest that a doubling of greenhouse gas concentrations will lead to a 30% reduction in the tundra available to Arctic species.
  
• Many of the world's most distinctive mammals are found only in the Arctic, including walrus, several species of seals, arctic foxes, collared lemmings, arctic and tundra hares, muskoxen, polar bears, mmarwhals and bowhead whales.
  
• As sea ice becomes thinner due to increased temperatures, animal intruders from the south, such as grizzly bears and moose, are penetrating north affecting local populations.
  
• Between 15 to 20% of the large nature reserves in southern reserves in southern Africa would experience a change in biome or habitat type under different climate change scenarios.
  
• Climatic changes will alter natural vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons, and the distribution of pests and diseases.

Global Warming - Science

GLOBAL Warming factors

G Gases

L Light

O Orbit

B Balance

A Acceleration

L Land use

The combinations of these factors is producing climate change. No one knows the relative importance of each. Each has been very significant in the past or could be in the future. Only some of these factors are affected by human activity.

G – Gases

We are changing the content of every breath we take. Several different gases are poisoning life on earth – and not just carbon dioxide.

Each gas is important, produced in different ways, but with twenty-fold differences in their effects per ton. But we need more data on the human use of carbon, as a proportion of total global emissions. These gases don’t just come from human action. Volcanoes for example have a significant effect.

Evidence from ice cores allows us a crude review of earth history. Trapped in deep layers of ancient ice several kilometres thick are tiny bubbles of air. These layers can be read like rings on an ancient tree – one per year – taking us back a million years. And in each bubble is a perfectly preserved mix of gases which is identical to what it was in that year.

The ice too tells us a story: different forms of hydrogen atoms (isotopes) are more common at different atmospheric temperatures, and these too are locked into ice layers. So we can build up a picture year by year not only of carbon dioxide levels, but also an indication of earth temperature.

Scientists have noted that in many cases the temperature seems to rise BEFORE carbon dioxide levels. Maybe another event triggers the process, and then it becomes self-perpetuating for a while as increased carbon dioxide leads to more warming and more carbon dioxide and so on.

Water vapour is also significant – especially when millions of tons are pumped into the upper atmosphere by aircraft, producing vapour trails that contribute up to 15% of cloud cover in some parts of the world. Many scientists think that more trails means more insulation, and warmer temperatures.

L – Light

Life on earth depends on heat from the sun, but this is powered by a massive nuclear fusion reaction, which varies in power. Over past millions of years, these natural shifts have affected climate. That’s why scientists are so interested in solar flares and spots.

O – Orbit

The earth is tilted on an axis, so that as we journey around the sun the seasons change. Because the earth is mostly a red hot core of molten rock, the mass of the earth shifts as it turns, creating a slight wobble, or change in axis over millions of years. In the past such small changes may have had a huge effect by increasing or decreasing seasonal variations.

B – Balance

The earth has powerful self-regulatory mechanisms. We don’t know the limit of self-regulation. It is impossible to calculate the risks of major disruption by our own actions.

Over millennia the natural balance has shifted. Vast amounts of atmospheric carbon has been captured by plants and trees. A significant amount has been gradually stored away over millions of years in oil, gas, coal and peat deposits – hugely undone in just a hundred years of burning.

A – Acceleration

Our world contains a number of feedback loops which are huge risks for our future. We could see an accelerating process, a spiral of disaster. Take peat: wet peat is stable but as it dries in warmer weather, it becomes food for fungi and bacteria and is rapidly decomposed into carbon dioxide. Peat decomposition could be a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions in future.

L – Land use

While clearing of forests has obvious impact, so does how land is cultivated (variations in radiant energy and evaporation) or used for animals (methane production from sheep or cattle is xx% of total global emissions.)

Then there is biofuel. It’s easy to make diesel from food, but making food also uses energy in machines, fertiliser and transport. Net energy gain may be small. Using biowaste sounds more ecowise but robs soil of natural fertiliser, so synthetic fertiliser is needed which also uses energy. Biofuel use has pushed up food prices dramatically which is causing hardship to the poorest around the world. They cannot compete with wealthy car owners who want to fill their vehicle tanks with food.

A paradox: while the surface of the earth is warming, the inside core is cooling. If the earth were the size of a football, the earth’s crust would be the thickness of little more than an egg shell. The rest is red hot liquid stone, and as we will see, this offers huge opportunities for energy generation.

10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work. To learn more about Worldwatch's efforts to create am environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life. For more advice, purchase State of the World 2010 - Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability, a report from 60 renowned researchers and practitioners on how to reorient cultures toward sustainability.

Save energy to save money.

• The summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
• Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
• Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
• Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
• Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in

Save water to save money.

• Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
• Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
• Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
• Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

Less gas = more money (and better health!).

• Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
• Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
• Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

Eat smart.

• If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
• Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
• Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
• Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

Skip the bottled water.

• Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
• Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
• Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

Think before you buy.

• Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
• Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
• When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
• Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

Borrow instead of buying.

• Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
• Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

Buy smart.

• Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
• Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
• Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

Keep electronics out of the trash.

• Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
• Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
• Recycle your cell phone.
• Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

Make your own cleaning supplies.

• Join the Million Car Carbon Campaign by purchasing your Earth-Aid kit today.
• The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
• Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Bonus Item!

• Stay informed about going green. Sign up for our weekly newsletter or subscribe to World Watch, our award-winning magazine.

Global Worming Causes

World View of Global Warming is an independent documentary project by photojournalist Gary Braasch, now in its 11th year, presenting a comprehensive look at global warming science, the world wide effects of climate change, its implications, and what action is being taken about it. Braasch documents this change through science reporting and photography from the Arctic to Antarctica, from glaciers to the oceans. Rapid climate change is occurring now and its effects are fast becoming one of the prime events of the 21st century.

What Causes Global Warming?

Scientists have spent decades figuring out what is causing global warming. They've looked at the natural cycles and events that are known to influence climate. But the amount and pattern of warming that's been measured can't be explained by these factors alone. The only way to explain the pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by humans.To bring all this information together, the United Nations formed a group of scientists called the International Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. The IPCC meets every few years to review the latest scientific findings and write a report summarizing all that is known about global warming. Each report represents a consensus, or agreement, among hundreds of leading scientists.

One of the first things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2.

Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even trap more heat than CO2. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2. Other gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade the ozone layer), have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But because their concentrations are much lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the atmosphere as CO2 does.

Most Causes of Global Warming

1. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants
2. Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation
3. Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds
4. Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood, pulp, and farmland
5. Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on croplands
6. Rise in sea levels worldwide
7. More killer storms
8. Massive crop failures
9. Widespread extinction of species
10. Disappearance of coral reefs

Causes of Global Warming

Scientists have determined that a number of human activities are contributing to global warming by adding excessive amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide accummulate in the atmosphere and trap heat that normally would exit into outer space.

Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to create the greenhouse effect that keeps the Earth warm enough to support life, human use of fossil fuels is the main source of excess greenhouse gases. By driving cars, using electricity from coal-fired power plants, or heating our homes with oil or natural gas, we release carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Deforestation is another significant source of greenhouse gases, because fewer trees means less carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen.

The Consequences of Global Warming

As the concentration of greenhouse gases grows, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere and less escapes back into space. This increase in trapped heat changes the climate and alters weather patterns, which may hasten species extinction, influence the length of seasons, cause coastal flooding, and lead to more frequent and severe storms.

How Do You Contribute?

If you want to help stop global warming, you have to understand how your actions are causing it. The main causes of global warming, in order of the magnitude of their impact, are:

Carbon Dioxide from:

• Fossil Fuel
• Deforestation
• Failing Sinks

Methane from:

• Cattle and Rice Paddies
• the Artic Tundra
• Clathrates

Nitrogen Oxides from Farming
Other Gases